CHRIS KENNY: I want to go to this other issue that was spruiked about by the Government on Sunday and Monday and that, of course, was the future of Whyalla Whyalla, the town that Tony Abbott and a prominent union leader said would be wiped off the map by the carbon tax. Now,…
PETER VAN ONSELEN: I’m joined here in the Sky News studio by Labor’s Bruce Hawker… can we still call you Labor’s Bruce Hawker after you were backing Kevin Rudd and not the Prime Minister? BRUCE HAWKER: A bit of a Labor outsider in some parts of Canberra but, yeah, still loyal. PETER…
Julia Gillard is trying to deceive Australians about the real impact for them of her carbon tax, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham said today. On Adelaide radio today, the Prime Minister deliberately avoided the most severe cost impacts of the carbon tax which took effect yesterday: “People can, you…
Senior Australians’ concerns at power bill rises highlight the looming impacts of Julia Gillard’s carbon tax, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham said today. National Seniors has warned that expected price hikes for electricity and gas will wipe out advance carbon tax compensation payments made to retirees in recent weeks. …
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (15:50): I thank the Senate for the support in considering this matter of public importance: the failure during the two years of the Gillard prime ministership to honour the commitment to fix the climate change, mining tax and border protection policy disasters. It is important to remember that this year we…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (10:51): It is a pleasure to follow Senator Nash in this debate on this appalling piece of legislation, the Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2012. Senator Nash has highlighted so many of the flaws in this proposal and just how much these flaws are a result of the hopeless management of…
SENATOR BIRMINGAM: (South Australia) (17:31): On behalf of the Chair of Joint Standing Committee on Treaties I present the 126th report on Treaty relating to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement tabled on 21 November 2011. In taking note of this report on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement-or ACTA, as it has become known-which was tabled in the…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (13:57): I rise to continue this debate on the Migration Legislation Amendment (The Bali Process) Bill 2012. This is a very complex and serious issue, but it is underscored with one very simple question: how do we stop the human tragedy of lives being lost at sea with minimal impact on…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (21:21): Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy President, and it is a pleasure to see you in the chair. Can I say as I rise to speak and congratulate you on that role. It is also a pleasure to follow Senator Joyce in speaking and to have heard some of his remarks…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (11:07): I rise to speak on the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Improved Access to Television Services) Bill 2012. At the outset of my remarks, let me reflect on what we just saw in the chamber. I am not referring to the division we just saw, although the division was of course like…